Taranaki vs Hawkes Bay – Score, Report and Highlights

Taranaki delivered a commanding performance to defeat Hawke’s Bay 63-19 in Round 7 of the Bunnings NPC at McLean Park on September 20, 2024. The result marked a dominant showing from the visitors, who built their lead through patient play and clinical execution across the match.

The victory came as a rematch of the previous year’s final, adding extra weight to the encounter. Taranaki’s clinical performance saw them cross for multiple tries, with Ken Noell completing a hat-trick to cap a memorable individual display. The result provided immediate revenge for any previous setbacks between these two provincial rivals.

Hawke’s Bay, playing their first home match since losing the Ranfurly Shield to Tasman in Round 5, struggled to contain Taranaki’s attacking threat throughout the contest.

Who Won Taranaki vs Hawkes Bay and What Was the Final Score?

Taranaki secured the victory through a combination of early pressure, strong set-piece execution, and relentless continuity. The final margin of 44 points reflected their dominance across the eighty minutes.

Key Match Insights

• Taranaki’s backline moves produced tries early in the contest, demonstrating their strategic preparation
• Ken Noell finished with a hat-trick, showcasing his finishing ability and positioning
• Bradley Slater crossed for an early try via a well-executed backline drive
• Josh Smith added to the tally from the base of a driving maul
• Hawke’s Bay captain Tom Parsons scored a response try but defensive lapses proved costly
• The result pushed Taranaki into serious title contention as the regular season progressed

Match Statistics Comparison

Match Details: Date, Venue, and Team Lineups

The match took place on September 20, 2024, at McLean Park in Napier. This marked Round 7 of the Bunnings NPC regular season, with both teams entering the fixture with strong credentials from earlier campaigns.

For Hawke’s Bay, the game carried additional significance following their Ranfurly Shield loss to Tasman in Round 5. The home side occupied fourth position on the table and had already secured a quarterfinal spot, making home playoff advantage a priority target.

Taranaki arrived as defending challengers with ambitions of climbing the standings and pushing for home advantage in the knockout stages.

Match Context

The fixture represented a rematch of the previous year’s NPC final, lending extra competitive intensity to the encounter. Taranaki’s preparation and execution proved superior on the day, translating their attacking potential into a commanding lead.

Key Highlights and Try Scorers

Taranaki’s victory was built on varied attacking options, combining structured set-piece tries with fluid backline movements. The early phases established the platform for their dominance.

Taranaki Tries

• Bradley Slater: Crossed early after a well-constructed backline drive demonstrated Taranaki’s tactical awareness from the outset
• Lineout Response: Another Taranaki player capitalized on a lineout situation to extend the lead
• Josh Smith: Powered over from the base of a driving maul, showcasing set-piece strength
• Ken Noell: Completed a hat-trick, with tries featuring involvement in buildup play and fortunate bounces of the ball in open play
• Wingers: Additional wingers crossed in open play, contributing to the near 50-point margin achieved by full-time

Hawke’s Bay Response

• Tom Parsons: The captain provided a response try, demonstrating leadership when his team needed momentum. Defensive struggles elsewhere prevented a more competitive scoreline.

Taranaki vs Hawkes Bay Head-to-Head History

Recent encounters between these provincial teams have produced contrasting results across different competitions. The rivalry has developed into one of the more compelling matchups in New Zealand provincial rugby.

Recent Results Summary

• 2024 Round 7: Taranaki 63 – 19 Hawke’s Bay (Bunnings NPC at McLean Park, Napier)
• 2025 Quarterfinal: Hawke’s Bay 26 – 12 Taranaki (McLean Park, Napier) — Hawke’s Bay advanced to semifinals
• 2025 Round 8: Taranaki 38 – 24 Hawke’s Bay (New Plymouth) — Taranaki earned bonus point, temporarily moved to second

The 2024 regular season encounter demonstrated Taranaki’s ability to dominate on the road, while subsequent meetings in 2025 showed competitive balance between the sides. For more analysis of head-to-head records across different sports, see our Western Sydney Wanderers FC vs Melbourne Victory preview.

Neither team has dominated the historical head-to-head record in recent years, with each side experiencing periods of ascendancy depending on form, venue, and context. The rivalry continues to produce entertaining contests with playoff implications.

NPC Standings and Match Implications

Following their Round 7 victory, Taranaki significantly strengthened their position in the Bunnings NPC standings. The result demonstrated their credentials as genuine championship contenders with aspirations of securing home playoff advantage.

Hawke’s Bay entered the match in fourth position, having already secured their quarterfinal berth. The loss, combined with their earlier Ranfurly Shield setback, highlighted the challenges facing the side as they worked to maintain their top-flight status in the competition.

The 2025 quarterfinal victory for Hawke’s Bay demonstrated their resilience in the knockout stages, even though the earlier regular season result went against them. Both teams continued to feature prominently in NPC discussions throughout the season.

For comprehensive cricket coverage, explore our analysis of Sri Lanka vs Oman results and scorecard.

Match Timeline

The contest unfolded with Taranaki establishing early dominance before building their lead progressively throughout the eighty minutes.

1. Opening phases: Taranaki executed backline moves with precision, creating early attacking opportunities
2. Early try: Bradley Slater crossed after a backline drive demonstrated tactical preparation
3. Lineout response: Taranaki capitalized on a lineout situation to extend their advantage
4. Maul try: Josh Smith powered over from the base of a driving maul
5. Captain’s response: Tom Parsons scored for Hawke’s Bay, briefly stemming the tide
6. Noell’s hat-trick: Ken Noell completed his third try through involvement in buildup and loose ball situations
7. Late surge: Additional Taranaki wingers crossed in open play, pushing the margin toward 50 points
8. Final whistle: Taranaki celebrated a 63-19 victory with a 44-point margin

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear

Official match reports and video highlights have confirmed the essential details of the encounter. Sources including tribal.fans, provincial.rugby, and match footage provide consistent accounts of the result and key scoring moments.

Confirmed Information

• Taranaki defeated Hawke’s Bay 63-19 on September 20, 2024
• Ken Noell scored a hat-trick for Taranaki
• Bradley Slater, Josh Smith, and multiple wingers also crossed
• Tom Parsons scored Hawke’s Bay’s response try
• The venue was McLean Park, Napier

Information Requiring Further Confirmation

• Full squad lineups for both teams remain partially documented in available sources
• Detailed possession and territory statistics were not fully published in match reports
• Individual player statistics beyond key try scorers require supplementary sources
• Post-match reaction from coaching staff not extensively reported in available materials

Competition Context and Historical Significance

The Bunnings NPC represents New Zealand’s premier provincial rugby competition, featuring regional teams competing across multiple divisions. The encounter between Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay carried particular weight as a rematch of the previous year’s final.

For Hawke’s Bay, the match marked their first home appearance since losing the Ranfurly Shield to Tasman in Round 5. The traditional challenge trophy carries significant prestige in New Zealand rugby, and its loss affected the team’s momentum entering the fixture.

Taranaki’s comprehensive victory demonstrated their ability to perform under pressure in challenging away environments. The result reinforced their status as serious contenders for the NPC title, with their combination of tactical intelligence and physical power proving difficult for opponents to contain.

Sources and Coverage

The match result has been documented across multiple official and independent platforms. Video highlights provide visual confirmation of key scoring moments and match dynamics.

Taranaki showed patience, skill, and power, pulling away late despite Hawke’s Bay’s home return post-Ranfurly Shield loss.

— Provincial Rugby match highlights report

Additional coverage from Sky Sports and Ultimate Rugby confirmed the quarterfinal result from 2025, providing context for the ongoing rivalry between these provincial teams.

Summary

Taranaki delivered a dominant 63-19 victory over Hawke’s Bay in Round 7 of the Bunnings NPC at McLean Park on September 20, 2024. The result featured a hat-trick from Ken Noell and tries from Bradley Slater and Josh Smith among others. The victory demonstrated Taranaki’s championship credentials while highlighting challenges for Hawke’s Bay following their Ranfurly Shield loss. For continued coverage of provincial rugby results and analysis, explore related match reports across our sports section.

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